How to Travel Alone This Summer

For many, summertime is the perfect opportunity to have a little get away. If you're like me, you have to actually travel to get where friends and family are and 98% of the time I'm doing it alone. This past week, I found myself flying back to my hometown of Pittsburgh to visit. I have no trouble breezing through a busy airport by myself because I've done it countless times since I was young. But it dawned on me that many young women may not have had that opportunity growing up. So if you find yourself traveling alone this summer, here are a few tips to hopefully make it run a bit smoother for you!

• Airport Size - Many airports are downright huge. It can be so stressful when you find yourself arriving at one gate and have to run to the complete opposite end of the airport, especially if you have a connecting flight. The night before you leave, get online and check out a map of the airport. You probably won't know what gate you'll be coming into, but at least get on and familiarize yourself with the airport so you don't find yourself lost and feeling stranded.
• Wear something comfortable - I always find myself opting for a comfortable pair of jeans and a letter shirt #sororitygirlproblems. But where something you'll feel comfortable in because you're probably going to find yourself just sitting around, whether it's on an airplane, waiting for your flight, or waiting in baggage claim. Wear comfortable shoes because I'd be more than willing to bet you're going to be doing some walking.
• Pack early - Don't be like me and wait until a few hours before your flight to pack. Lay everything out and figure out exactly what you're going to need. If you wait until the last minute to pack, you may get to your destination and realize you forgot to pack some essentials.
• Check into your flight within 24 hours of your flight leaving - Nowadays, you can easily check into your flight online which saves you the hassle of having to deal with checking in at the airport and adding more time to your wait. If you check in online, you can have your boarding pass emailed or text straight to your smartphone and use that to check in. This means you can head straight to security and get on your way faster. For iPhone users, if you check in online, it will give you the option to add your boarding pass to your "Passbook" app which will then give you reminders of when your flight will begin boarding. Oh Apple, how much easier you make my life.
• Bring things to keep you occupied - Again, you're going to have downtime. Don't just sit on your phone and drain the battery because you may need it later on. Bring magazines, a book, a tablet or computer to watch movies, homework, etc.
• Be aware of your surroundings - I can't stress ENOUGH how important this is! Don't be the girl walking through the airport mindlessly scrolling Twitter. If you aren't aware of what's going on around you, you could very easily have items go missing or even worse, you could go missing. Unfortunately it is a very real scenario. So PAY ATTENTION to where you are, what you're doing, and who's around you!

So tell us, what do you think? Do you have any travel tips you'd like to add? Comment below and share them with us!

Notes to the LDC: Amanda's Reflection on Being an LDC

Since today is my final day as a leadership development consultant for Phi Sigma Sigma, I wanted to reflect on all of the great things this job has offered me.

In addition to all of the benefits I mentioned in my first SGT blog post, I have had the opportunity to meet some amazing Phi Sigma Sigma women from around the country.

As you can see in this photograph, I received a lot of love from many sisters.

A majority of these notes are from the sisters of the Gamma Xi chapter at Widener University. They welcomed me into their beautiful home eight months ago. Throughout the school year I have worked closely with the chapter to create positive change and exciting new traditions. While it was a lot of work, the sisters and I had fun together as well. From hanging out in the manor to running the concession stands at PPL Park for a fundraiser, we have created many memories. I hope I taught them a lot because these women helped me develop leadership skills that I did not expect to gain. 

There are also notes in there from my consultant big, Shelly. Shelly is an amazing Phi Sig from Oregon who also was once a leadership consultant for the sorority. Even though she is from the other side of the country, she has been a huge support system for me. Whenever I  needed advice, Shelly offered her love and care through phone calls, text messages, and even surprise packages! Shelly mailed me a big package of my favorite candies and she even got me an adorable tank top from The Greek Supply "just because."

I also need to acknowledge my lovely sisters from the Iota Rho chapter at Saint Joseph's University. Some of the notes in this picture are from founders of the chapter and the chapter's advisor, Beth. This chapter has been such a joy to work with because the sisters are sweet and friendly and the leaders of the chapter are very driven and accomplished. Watching this newer chapter grow and experience its first formal recruitment was so rewarding and I look forward to seeing what the women do next.

Even though I was stationed in the Philadelphia area for a majority of my time as a consultant, I traveled to at least ten states and around 20 universities. In the pile I have an adorable thank you card from the Zeta Omicron chapter at Kutztown University and I have multiple kind notes and letters from another former consultant, Christina, after we colonized Phi Sigma Sigma's newest chapter at Farmingdale State College. All of my visits were unique, enlightening, and definitely unforgettable.

Because this job allowed me to explore different parts of the country with sisters, I added in some ticket stubs. I visited museums in Washington, D.C. with another consultant, Katie, and I even attended a campus-sponsored drag queen show with the Zeta Rho chapter at Fitchburg State University.

At the top of the photograph is a review of my work as a consultant after the fall semester. I added the review to this pile because it was full of encouraging feedback from chapter leaders and advisors. I am so proud to see that I have been making a positive and lasting impact on the chapters I work with and visit. I hope to keep in touch with everyone and hear about how they have grown.

There are many other special people that shaped my LDC experience as well. Some additional memories added in this next college include chaperoning the Grab-a-Date date party for the Delta Eta chapter at University of Delaware, helping the Iota Eta chapter at Florida Institute of Technology with formal recruitment, taking photo shoots with the other Phi Sigma Sigma consultants, working at Leadership Conference in Virginia, running extension presentations with HQ staff, playing laser tag with sisters from the Delta Upsilon chapter at Siena Heights University, and bumping into my grand little at a Phired Up workshop.

This has been a crazy eight months, but I do not regret a minute of it. LITP!

Traveling with You Sisters- A Life Changing Experience

For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to travel. I know a lot of people say this, but in all honesty, in the deepest part of my soul, all I want is this world is to be able to see the world through my lens, capture it, and inspire others to do the same (if I got paid to do this that would be a great bonus).

Growing up, my father was never too keen on me being anywhere away from his abusive household. As I grew, my walls became covered with pictures and collages of the many places I wanted to visit. He would always tell me that I would never be able to go anywhere with out him, and I am sure, long before I realized how crazy he was, that every day I felt more and more trapped and thus longed to pick up and go anywhere my heart desired.

Sometime after my father was out of the picture, I was able to take my first adventure. In November of 2011, I registered for a travel course to spend 11 days exploring Greece at the end of May 2012. This was a dream come true for me, especially since years before I became “Greek” myself, I have always wanted to visit and learn about, in my mind, the most beautiful culture in the world.

The best part about this upcoming trip was knowing that I wasn’t going alone. Not only would I be traveling  to the most beautiful country in the world with a class, and a professor I already knew but I would be traveling to Greece with 5 others of my sorority sisters.

Traveling along Greece with my sisters brought us all closer. We learned a lot about the country, each other, and even ourselves. it was an experience that I wouldn’t want to share with anyone else and to this day, I encourage my fellow sisters to take the opportunity to take travel with each other.

And now I am telling you, take the opportunity while you young to travel with your sorority sisters because there are very few experiences in this world that would ever compare!

For me, this made my first traveling experience that much better. I was able to witness the true beauty of the country that is very much a part of me and my fellow Greeks, I was able to see the letters and recognize them, see the agriculture, and art, and country side and felt oddly connect to the place. It was comforting to know that I was not alone, that 7 other individuals (five  in my chapter, two in other sororities) felt that same connection. To this day, I long for the feelings that trip gave me, I long to be back, and I always look back and remember how we felt on that trip together, because all of were better people because of it.